Ledger tray



Nov. 1, 1927.

E. OHNSTRAND LEDGER TRAY Filed July 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WW m, a 0 0 A Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOCH OI-INSTRAND, OF MOHAWKpNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO REMINGTON BAND INCL, OF ,TOlXFAWANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DEL- AWARE.

LEDGER 'JIRAYY.

Application filed July 15, 1924. Serial No. 726,123. v

This invention relates to card or ledger trays, but more particularly to portable trays for card systems of bookkeeping.

In bookkeeping systems in which a great number of loose cards or sheets are employed, it is desirable to enable a tile or stack of cards to be conveniently transferred from one place to another, whether from one department to another, from temporary files to permanent files, or wherever desired.

The objects of this invention are to provide improved means whereby a number of cards or sheets may be conveniently transported from one place to another; to enable a card tray to be opened andsupported in an inclined position so that the cards may be readily inspected orhandled; to produce a portable card tray having certain new and improved features of construction hereinshown in Fig. 1 turned at right angles there- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the receptacle on a reduced scale, showing the parts in one position;

Fig. 4c is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing.

the parts in another position;

I Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a corner construction showing the card-supporting plates-in unfolded position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of-Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan View on a reduced scale of one of the card-supporting plates.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form in which both-sides are similarly supported in an inclined position.

Referring to the drawings, the receptacle or case 1 which may be of any suitable material, such as sheet metal or leather, comprises a'base 2-towhich are pivoted the sides or walls 3 andt. The side 3 is preferably provided with opposed flanges 5, and the upper portions ofthe flanges 5 are cut awa .at 6 to permit ready access to the contents of the receptacle. Theside 1 iselikewisepro vided with flanges 7 which are slightly cut away at 8. The base 2 is formed with opposed flanges 9 which are adapted to lie outside of the side flanges 5 and 7 when the sides are in folded or closed position. A cover 10 is pivoted to the side 3 at 11 and a suitable carrying handle 12 is secured to the cover 10. The cover 10 comprises a flat portion 18 having three 1 depending walls 14 which are adapted to fit over and cover the outer ends of the sides 3 and ,4 when in folded position and one or both of the depending walls is adapted to be held or locked to the flanges l by suitable locks 15.

In order to support one of the sides of the receptacle and permit the other side to lie in approximately the horizontal plane of the base 2, legs 16 are pivoted at 17 to the side flanges 5. The legs 16 are preferably provided with elongated slots 17 in which pins 18 carried by links 19 are slidable, and the links 19 are pivoted at 20 to the side flanges 5. The links 19 serve to support or brace the legs 16 in the'outer position of the legs, and by moving the links 19 so that the pins 18 slide inwardly in the slots 17 the legs and links may be folded together when the case is carried as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Braces 21 are pivoted at 22 to the side v flanges 7 and are provided with pins 23 adjacent one end thereof. The pins 23 are adapted to be inserted in apertures 24 in the side flanges 5 to hold the side 4 in an inclined position relative to the base 2, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the contents of the receptacle may be readily-inspected. N otches 25 may be provided in the braces 21 for cooperation with pins 26 to limit the swinging movement of the braces in one direction so that the braces will not be in the way when .the receptacle is being carried.

As this receptacle is primarily intended for use in connection with a card system of bookkeeping, it is desirable that a suitable supporting element27 in this instance comprises apair ofplates-28 and 29 which are pivoted together at 30. Theplate 28 is pivoted at- 31 to a support 32 which is welded card-supporting element be provided within or otherwise suitably secured to the side 3. The plate 29 is preferably, formed with tongues 33 which are adapted to be inserted in the slots formed in the pivotal joint between the side 4 and base 2 when theside is swung outwardly from the base as indicated in Fig. 3. When it is not desired to use the card-supporting element, it may be tinfolded to lie against the side 3 and by forcing the plate 29 over a suitable spring catch the card-supporting element will be held or locked against the side.

In order to prevent injury to the cards 28 when the case is being carried and to hold them in place, a mat preferably of rubber and having ribs or serrations 35 pro vided with a retainer 38 which may be suitably secured to thebase 2. Suitable cushioning pads 37 may be secured to the base 2 and also pads 38 may be suitably clamped to the legs 16 if desired. 7

In the position of the receptacle shown in Fig. 3 only one side is supported in an inclined position in order that the cards may be conveniently removed for making entries or for any other reason, and, because the plate 28 is preferably wider than the cares, the cards may be oil et when restored to the stack for future reference. The mat 35 prevents the cards from slipping so that any card desired can be readily removed from the stack. After entry has been made on the cards they may be laid upon the side l and placed against the plate 29 whicn serves as an aligning stop to hold them in position. The position that the receptacle has assumed in Fig. ienables the cards to be inspected but in this position the card-supporting element remains unfolded and locked against the side 3, as indicated.

If desired both sides 3 and a may be sup-- ported in an inclined position independently of each other and, as shown in Fig. 8 legs 16 may be connected to the side i. The braces 21 may in this case be omitted entirely, if desired. The legs 16 are attached and braced similarly to the legs 16 heretofore described, and enable the side at to be supported in position to inspect the cards independently of the position assumed by the side 3.

I claim:

1. A ledger tray for card systems of bookkeeping including a base, sides, means for supporting one of the sides in inclined position and a pair of pivotally connected plates within the tray, one of said plates being pivoted to one of the sides, and means for holding the other plate to the same side when the plates are unfolded out of use.

2. A, portable ledger tray for card systems of bookkeeping including a base portion, side portions pivoted to the base portion, flanges on each of the side portions adapted to overlap when the sides are foleed toward each other, a leg connected to one side portion adapted to support said portion in an inclined position, bracing means on the other side portion adapted to be connected to the supported side and a pivoted card support adapted to be folded to support one or more cards in an inclined position and unfolded to lie against one of the sides when not in use. V

3. In a portable ledger tray for card sys tems of bookkeeping, card supporting means com sing a pair of pivoted members, one of s ,L members being pivoted to the base portion of the receptacle, and the second member serving to support the first member in inclined position, and means on the second member adapted to cooperate with a portion of the base of the receptacle to hold said members in useful position above said base.

4-. A portable ledger tray for card systems of bookkeeping comprising a base,sides piv oted to the base, means for supporting one side in an inclined position relative to the base, and means carried by the other side adapted. to engage said iirst named side to support the other side in inclined posit-ion relative to the base, said other side being also adapted to lie in approximately the same horizontal plane as the base.

5. A portable ledger tray. for .card systems of bookkeeping having a base, sides pivoted to the base, means for supporting one side at an angle to the base, a strap pivoted to the other side, and means for connecting the free end of the strap to the first named side, whereby both of the sides are supported at an inclined position relative to the base, said strap being readilydetachable from the first named side so that the second named side may be disposed in approximately th same horizontal plane as the base.

6. In a ledger tray having a base and sides pivoted tothe base, a card support comprising a member pivoted to one of said sides and a bracehinged to said member adapted to cooperate with a portion of the base to sup port said ineinberin an inclined position relative to the base, in one position, and, in another position, to be disposed with said member flatwise against the side of the tray.

7. In a ledger tray having a base and sides pivoted to the base, a card support comprisa plate pivoted to one of said sides and a brace hinged to the plate, one edge of said brace engaging the hinge of the other side to supportthe plate in inclined position relative to the base, the plate and the brace being also adapted to lie flatwise against said first named side when not in use, and meansfor holding said elements against said side.

Signed by him at Herkimer, New York, this 8th day of July, 1924:.

ENOGH OH'NSTRAND. 

